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ST HELENS took an early opportunity to enhance their standing as would-be Super League champions with an inspired victory in the mud at Widnes last night, running out 22-4 winners. Sean Long scored one try, set up another and taunted Widnes with a succession of runs that frustrated a side whose hopes were also undone by their failure to keep hold of the ball in key positions. Forty eight hours of rain had left the pitch resembling the nearby Mersey estuary at low tide and the heavy conditions inevitably led to a host of handling errors.

However, the costliest mistakes came from the boot of Adam Hughes, whose failure with two simple penalty attempts inside the opening 10 minutes prevented Widnes taking an early initiative.

Without Ryan Sheridan, a late withdrawal with a viral infection, Widnes struggled to break down a well-drilled